Overhead trolley



Feb. 27, 1923.

P. L. HOFFMAN.

OVERHEAD TROLLEY.

FILED JUNE 16, 1922.

4 limi( Mil hmm. H

Feb. 27, 1923.

P. L. HOFFMAN.

OVERHEAD TROLLEY.

2 SHEET SHEET 2` FILED JUNE I6. 1922.

nxfe um Patented. Feb. 27, i923..

PETER L. HOFFMAN, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARDVSI-WILCOX MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

OVERHEAD TROLLEY.

Application filed June 16, 1922.

To all whom t may concern'.

Be it kno'wn that LGIETER L. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aurora, in'the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful I'mproven'ients in Overhead Trolleys, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in trolleys that run on overhead tracks and more particularly to such devices as are employed for supporting and transporting various articles in and around warehouses, shops, etc. It has for its objects to provide novel means for preventing damage to the flanges of the trolley wheels in the event that one of the wheeled carriages is forcibly moved against another of the carriages; to provide in connection with each wheel of the carriage novel means for eiicludimg1 dirt and dust from the anti-friction bearings of the wheel and at the same time provide for the lubrication of such bearings without disturbing the dust-excluding means; to provide improved means for suspending a load from each of the carriages; and to improve generally the construction of devices of this general character, all of which objects I attain as illust-rated in the drawing and here inafter described. That which I believe to be new will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation 'of a wheeled carrier embodying my improvementsa portion of' a track on which saidcarrier moves being also shown;

Fig. 2 is a section through the web of the trolley-track taken at line 2-2 of Fig. l, and showing in plan the wheeled carrier of said Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is av view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical section .of the devices of'Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially on 'the line 4--4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail. being a perspective view of one of the tubular spacers interposed between the opposite frame members of the carriage;

serial no. 5s,7o`3.

Fig. 6 is a. detail, being. a perspective view of the nut that forms an adjustable abut# ment at one end of the spacer shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a detail, being a. perspective view of the bushing that surrounds one end portion of each of the bolts that pass through the tubular spacers, 'such bushing being located in an opening in one of the frame walls of the carriage.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings,-A indicates an I-beam, the lower flanges a of which constitute lthe track rails upon which run the wheels of the trolleys.`

One trolley device embodying my improvements is shown in place on saidrails. Said trolley or wheeled carriage comprises two similar frame members 5, each in the form of a plate, as best shown in Fig. l, these plates being held the proper distance 'apart by any desired number of spacers, which are here shown as tubes G-t-w of them being employed in the construction shown-and through each of these tubes and through holes in the plates 5 passes a bolt 7, the ends of which are screw-threaded to receive nuts 8 by the turning of which the side plates 5 will be secured together. As shown, the nuts are slotted to receive cotter pins 9 which pass through holes in the end portions ofthe bolt. Any other suitable means, of course,

'may be employed for locking the nuts and The bolt` bolts against relative movement. holes in one of the plates are preferably of a size to conform to the diameter of the bolts, whereas, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the holes in the other plate are considerably enlarged so as to each loosely receive a bushing 7EL that surrounds the bolt that passes therethrough.

Each bushing is slightly longer than the thickness of'the plate with which it is associated, and. therefore, a turning up of the adjacent nut will cause a clampingV of the bushing between the washers that are shown as vnext to that nut and the end of thev spacer,

lwhich end is here shown as having an integral head 6?. The interposition of this relatively-long bushing thusprevents the plate that it is located in being immovably clamped` against the said head 7a, and hence, inasmuch as the bushing is slightly less in diameter than the hole in the plate, al slight play of the parts is permitted that allows the sides of the carriage to' adjust themselves relatively to each other sufficiently to ensure all four Wheels of the carriage having an equal bearing on the track. I do not find it necessary to employ such a bushing member in connection with the opposite side pla-te, but, as shown, the holes therein 4,through which the bolts pass are of just the proper size for the bolts to freely pass through and such wall is preferably clamped solidly against the adjacent ends of the spacers. It is desirable, however, that provision be made for varying to a slight extent the distance between the two plates that form the side walls of the carriage and I therefore make the enlargement or bearing portion of the two spacers that come against. the last-nientioned plate in the form of an adjustable abutment, which is herel shown as a nut 6b that screws' onto the spacer'.

can be secured firmly together at exactly the -required distance apart and yet the necessaryl slight play allowed wit-h relation to each otherto ensure proper bearing of the wheels, -as stated, Ais permitted.

Through screw-threaded openings in the I upper portion of each plate pass two heavy vbolts 10 that constitute the axles for the wheels and `upon the` inner unthreaded portion of which are mounted the two wheels indicated by 11, said wheels being adapted to run on the rails a and each wheel` having a flange l2 that projects opposite the adjacent outer edge ofthe rail that it runs on. Each Wheel is held in proper position with respect to the plate 5 that carries it by a nut 13 screwed upon the outer end of the bolt 10 and locked in place by a set screw 14 as shown, or in any other suitable manner. Each wheel as here shown'is provided with anti-friction; ball bearings of any usual type. In each yface of each Wheel is formed a comparatively deep annular recess l15., and mounted upon the bolt 10 at each side of the wheel is a metal plate 16, the central portion of the outer one of said plates being clamped between the inner face of the adjacent side plate 5 and the projecting end (of a bearing block 16, while the other plate is clamped between the head of said bolt l0 and the 4projecting end of th other block 16, The marginal portion of each plate 16 is inwardly turned, as at 17, so as to extend `into and at all times lie within the adjacent annular recess 15'. Against the inner face of each one of the \plates 16 and immediately adjoining the saidf turned marginal portion is an annularplece of absorbent material 15E-preferably felt-and, as clearly shown by Fig.

v3, the retaining means forthe anti-friction By the construction described the two plate membersl lined, whereby it will be evident that .the

said bearings will make contact with'such absorbent member 18 and thereby ensure their being at all times kept well lubricated. Asshown in Fig. 3, each of the plates 16 has a small opening 19 formed in its turned marginal portion, through which lubricating oil may from time to time be passed to keep the absorbent pads 1S saturated.

By reason of the metal plates 16 being held pressed closely aga-inst the projecting ends of the non-rotatable bearingblocks 16al that the anti-friction balls roll against, and by reason of the inwardly turned marginal portions of such plates extending' into the annular recesses in the faces of the wheels,

fa very effectual guarding ofl the anti-friction members of yeach wheel is provided against' the admission of any dust or other foreign matter that would interfere with the easy turning of the wheels. This guard ingagainst such admission of foreign matter is further promoted by the location and arrangement of the absorbent ring members 18, as will'be understood. Inasniuch as trolley devices of this character are frequently used in situations where dirt and other small particles are in the air, it is of great importance to provide suitable means for their exclusion from the wheel bearings in order to prevent rapid deterioration of suchv bearings.

Devices of the general character illustrated are frequently subjected to very rough usage, one example of which is thil careless handling of them so that one wheeled carriage will be violently rolled against a succeeding one. Vhen two carriages are thus banged together, the flanges of the wheels are apt. to become chipped or broken, and to prevent vsuch results I have provided each plate 5 at each of its front and rear edges with a wheel guard 2O that extends out alongside of the face of the that, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, lies opposite the fiange and tread of the wheel.

This guard is in the form o'f a heavy arm. and preferably it will be cast with the plate 5 that carries it. It will be evident that when two carriages each equipped with guard devices, such as shown, come into collision with eachother, the devices 2() on the two carriages will come together and thus prevent damage that otherwise might result to their wheels, and particularly to their flanges, if these guard members were not provided.

Through the lower central portions of the two plates 5 are .openings in which is journaled a heavy bar I21, the central porrelease plate 5 through which this supporting member 21 paes is enlarged to form a head 22 and, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 3, such enlargement or head is cored out to provide a chamber 23 adapted to receive lubricant, so as to keep the journaled portion .of the member 21 that passes therethrough well` lubricated at alll times. Such lubricant -chamber is adapted to be filled through an opening such as 24. The

ends of the curved central part of the at! taching member 21 havel flanges 25 that 'abut against the inner faces of the hollow heads 22, and it will be seen that isudh member 21, therefore, forms an effective spacing device, additional to those provided by the tubular members 6. The outer ends of the journaled portions of the member 21 are screw-threaded to receive nuts 26,

and these nuts, like the nuts 8 on the bolt' 7, may be provided with slots to receive cotter pinsv27l that pass through holes in the threaded parts ofthe journaled ends. rllhese` nuts 26 are not to be set up so tightly,

however, as to prevent the free swinging of the member 21, for, as will be understood from the provision for lubricant inl the chamber 23, 'it is intended that this bowed or curved member 21 shall be free to oscillate.. The load hanging on this curved or bowed pie 21 exerts an even pull on both of the trolley wheels, for, as clearly shown by. Fig. 1, the attachment of the member 21 is in a line' directly midway between the axes of the two sets of wheels o f the carriage, and, consequently, the carriage as a whole will tend to move smoothly and evenly along the trackway. The member 21` as well as the sideplates and other parts of the device are preferably formed of malleable castings, and inasmuch as it is l the outer surface of such a casting that is the strongest partof the material'it is better not to machine the journal ends of the member 21, and, therefore, in order to in-4 sure a good fit without such machining 1 form in the face of each flange 25 when the casting is being made an annular groove whoseinner ed e merges with the cylindrical Surface of t e journal, as clearly shown v1n the sectional part of Fig, 3, where one of such grooves is shown and indicated by "228. So forming these grooves provides the required working iit of the parts without the expense and weakening effectjof a machining oper-ation.v o

lVhat I claim as my invention and de'- sire to secure by Letters Pfatent, is-

1. The combination of a wheel having an annular recess in a face thereof, an axle on whichv the. Wheel is rotatably mounted, a

and an annular plate lying opposite said" recessed face of the.. wheel and having a turned marginal portion that extends into said recess, said plate having an opening through it for the passage of lubricant` to said bearing means.

3. The combination ofpa wheel having an annular recess in a face thereof, an axle on which the wheel is rotatably mounted, anti-friction bearingmeans for the wheel, and an annular plate lying opposite said recessed face of the wheel and having a turned marginal portion that extends into said recess, lsaid plate having an opening through said turned marginal portion for the passage of lubricant to said bearing means.

4. The combination of a wheel having an annular recess in a face thereof, an axle 'on which said wheel is rotatably mounted,

ginal portion that extends into said recess,

anti-friction bearing means for the wheel, and an annular pad between said-wheel and plate adapted when saturated with lubricant to transfer 'lubricant to said bearing means, said plate having an opening forthe passage of lubricant to said pad.

6. The combinationof a frame member, a trolley wheel rotatably supported opposite one side of said frame member and having an annular recess in that fac/e adjacent tothe frame member, anti-friction bearing means for the wheel comprising a stationary member and a plurality of rolling means supported on said stationary member. said stationary member projecting beyond the face of the wheel, and an annular plate clamped between saidframe' member and the projecting end-of said stationary member of the anti-friction bearing means, said the fra-me member, anti-friction bearing means for the wheel comprising a stationary member and a pluralityY of rolling means supported on said stationary member, said stationary member projecting beyond the face of the wheel, an annular pad lying over said projecting eiid portion, and an annular plate clamped between said frame member and the projecting end of said stationary member of the anti-friction bearing means, said plate having a turned marginal portion that extends into said recess in the face of the wheel.

48. The combination of a frame member,

an axle secured to and extending laterally from said frame member, a trolley wheel rotatably mounted on said axle and having in each of its faces an annular recess.l bearing means interposed between said axle and wheel and comprising stationary and rolling members. an annular Aplate opposite eachk face of the wheel, each plate having a turned marginal portion that extends into one of said annular recesses, and means for clamping said plates against said stationary members of the anti-friction means.

9. 'Ihe combination of a frame member, an axle secured to and extending laterally from said frame member. a trolley wheel rotatably mounted on saidv axle andl having in each 0f its faces an annular recess. bearing means interposed between said axle and wheel and comprising stationary and rolling members` said stationary members projecting at their'ends beyond'the faces of the wheel` an annular plate opposite each faceV of` the wheel. each plate having a turned marginal portion that extends into one of said annular recesses, and means for clamping said plates against said projecting ends of the stationary members of said anti-friction means. i c

l0. In a device of t-he class described, the

combination of a wheeled frame comprising two spaced-apart members, an axle secured to and projecting laterally from the -inner 4face of each of the said frame members, and a trolley wheelrotatably mounted on each axle, each frame member having an extension that lies alongside of the adjacent wheel and has a turnedv portion that lies opposite the rim of such wheel.

11. In a. device of the class described, the combination of a wheeled frame comprising two spaced-apart members, a bolt pass,

ing through alined Openings in said members, a bushing loosely-fitting in one of said openings and surrounding said bolt, sald ings and surrounding said bolt, said bushing being longer than the thiclmess of the memberin which it is located, a spacer surrounding said bolt and abutting at one of its ends against said bushing, meanson said spacer for varying its length to hold said' members at ditt'erent'distances apart, and

means on said bolt for clamping said spacer tightly against said bushing andthe opposite one ot' said frame members.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a wheeled frame comprising' two spaced-apart members, a bolt passing through alined openings in "said members, a. bushing loosely fitting in one of said openn ings and surrounding said bolt, said bushing being longer than the thickness of the mem-- her in which it is located, a spacer surround-V ing said bolt and abutting at one of its ends against said bushing, said spacer having an integral head at one end and an adjustable head at the other end, one of'which heads lies opposite the inner face of one of said frame members andthe other head opposite said bushing, and mea-ns on said boltfor clamping said spacer against said bushing andthe oppositely-located frame member.

ll. Inla device of the class described, the combination of a frame comprising two members spaced apart and k connected together, two alined wheels rotatably connected with each of said frame members near the upper l edge thereof, and a centrally-bowed load-attaching bar journaled in said frame inembers near the lower edge thereof,'the axis of the journaled ends of said bar being in a. vertical plane approximately equi-distant from said wheels.

'15. 111 a. device of the classfdescribed, the comblnation with a. wheeled frame comprismg two spaced-apart members connected together and each having in its lower portion a lubricant chamber, of a load-attaching Vbar having its end portions journaled in said frame members, said end portions also passing through said lubricant chambers.

16. In a device of the class described, the -combination with a wheeled frame comprising two spaced-apart members connected toget-her, of a centrally-bowed load-attaching bar journaled in said frame members near the lower edge thereof, each of said frame' members having a lubricant chamber for supplying lubricant to said journaled end apart members of the frame, said bar havportions. v

17. ln a device of the class described, the abut .against said spaced-apart members, the

combination of a WheeledA frame compris-- abutting face of each flange being provided 5 ing two spaced-apart members connected tlowith an annular recess Whose inner edge gether, and a load-attaching bar having an merges into the cylindrical surface of the intermediate bowed ortion and end poradjacent journal end. tions that'are journalied in the saidspaced- 4 PETER L. HOFFMAN.

ing two Vflanges thereon that respectively f 

